'It's too easy to go into every battle. You won't win the Arc that way'
Julian Muscat meets the French trainer who fell in love with West Sussex
A particularly juicy fruit dangled from the tree of knowledge in David Menuisier’s Garden of Eden.
The Coral-Eclipse Stakes had cut up to seven runners at the five-day stage. An illustrious race beckoned him to change course with Wonderful Tonight, who’d won the Hardwicke Stakes just nine days earlier. However, even though the Eclipse was ripe for plucking, Menuisier resisted temptation.
It will be three months before Menuisier learns of the wisdom of his decision. After her thumping victory in the Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day, Wonderful Tonight was kept in training at four with one specific target. All roads pointed to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Any detours to the scenic route ran the risk of leaving the Arc behind.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inInterviews
Last updated
Copy- 'It's tough financially and last year I said I might get a job driving a lorry instead - although to be fair I'd probably crash!'
- 'I'm not here to tell people how to train but if you hide something from me, I'm gone, I'm done - and you won't see me again'
- 'I had to fly back from Saudi on the day for the awards before flying back the following day but it really was a great evening'
- 'The lads often give out to me for saying what I say - but if I didn't say what I thought I wouldn't be being true to myself'
- 'All anyone wants is a pat on the back and these awards show you mean something to the yard and the people there. It's brilliant'
- 'It's tough financially and last year I said I might get a job driving a lorry instead - although to be fair I'd probably crash!'
- 'I'm not here to tell people how to train but if you hide something from me, I'm gone, I'm done - and you won't see me again'
- 'I had to fly back from Saudi on the day for the awards before flying back the following day but it really was a great evening'
- 'The lads often give out to me for saying what I say - but if I didn't say what I thought I wouldn't be being true to myself'
- 'All anyone wants is a pat on the back and these awards show you mean something to the yard and the people there. It's brilliant'